Welcome to UK’s most crime-infested, filthy street where drug lords rule and people defecate openly

Britain’s high streets are facing a crisis of safety and stability, with new data exposing just how severe the situation has become. Parliament Road in Middlesbrough once stood at the heart of a thriving working-class community, in a town globally renowned for its iron and steelworks.

Middlesbrough’s meteoric rise from a hamlet of 25 people in 1801 to the “Iron-smelting centre of the world” by the late 19th century earned it the nickname “Ironopolis”. Generations of families found steady work and pride in the iron and steel industries, and streets like Parliament Road bustled with life, commerce, and camaraderie.

Today, the legacy of industry has faded, and Parliament Road tells a very different story—a street now synonymous with deprivation, danger, and decline. Once lined with local shops and busy with families, it’s now plagued by anti-social behaviour, open drug use, and shocking acts like people defecating on the road. Residents say the area becomes a no-go zone after 6pm, with gangs taking control and locals living in fear.
The data is stark: in March 2025 alone, 23 crimes were reported in the area, with 10 classified as violent or sexual offences. Shopkeepers barricade their businesses with barbed wire, and families avoid venturing out after dark. “You’re always looking over your shoulder,” one resident confided while talking to The Sun, echoing a sentiment felt across the community.

But this crisis is not limited to crime. Health outcomes here are among the worst in the country. Years of poverty, poor housing, and limited access to fresh food have led to soaring rates of chronic illness.

Parliament Road sits within one of the most deprived areas in Middlesbrough—a town ranked the 5th most deprived local authority in England, with 49% of residents living in the 10% most deprived areas nationally.Health outcomes here are among the worst in the country. Life expectancy is the lowest in the North East, and child poverty is rampant: 32.7% of children in Middlesbrough live in income-deprived families, the highest rate in England. In some nearby wards, child poverty exceeds 50%. Obesity is a growing crisis, with 24.5% of Year 6 children in the North East living with obesity, the highest rate in the country. Mental health is also a major concern; 10% of adults with serious mental illnesses in the region have been waiting over 800 days for a second appointment with community mental health services

Parliament Road’s dramatic transformation—from a symbol of industrial might to a corridor of deprivation—captures the urgent challenges facing many former industrial communities across the UK. As crime and ill health take their toll, residents are left asking: who will help restore pride, safety, and hope to Britain’s forgotten streets?